The Houston Astros had a notable absence from the lineup on Sunday as star slugger Yordan Alvarez was unavailable due to an apparent injury. The Astros sent Alvarez in for testing on his hand after there had been growing fear that he had broken his hamate bone in his hand during his final plate appearance on Saturday. According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Astros got some encouraging news from their examination of his hand and don't believe it's a serious injury.
There was fear within the Astros' organization that Yordan Alvarez had suffered a broken hamate in his hand in his last PA Saturday. But they got good news from his exam today, and while he is out of the lineup, they don't think the injury is serious.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 19, 2022
While Alvarez will likely be sidelined for a few games in order to rest up his hand, Astros fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that their star slugger has avoided a significant injury. A broken hamate bone in his hand would likely have cost him as much as two months, but early indications suggest that he has avoided that.
The Astros won't have him in the lineup when they close out the series against the White Sox on Sunday, but he doesn't figure to miss much time beyond that game. With Alvarez out of the lineup, J.J. Matijevic will slot in as the designated hitter and bat sixth for the ‘Stros.
This season, Alvarez is slashing .311/.403/.623 with 18 home runs, 47 RBI, and 41 runs scored. The 24-year-old has drawn 31 walks while striking out just 39 times this year, coming into his own as a generational offensive talent. He's been the heart and soul of the Astros' offense, so it was a major concern when he sustained the injury while swinging the bat in his final plate appearance on Saturday.